MARTIN O'Neill says Villa's break from Premiership action will give him time to play catch-up on and off the field, insisting: "It's time we got back to basics."

MARTIN O'Neill says Villa's break from Premiership action will give him time to play catch-up on and off the field, insisting: "It's time we got back to basics."

The Villa boss has identified areas of concern on the pitch that he will be working on, namely the defending of set-pieces.

And off the pitch O'Neill will be looking at the issues of scouting potential targets and that of player contracts, among other things, with Olof Mellberg and Gavin McCann set for new deals to reward their efforts this season.

O'Neill has organised a five-day training break in Spain for his squad next week to take advantage of the lull in action and to help his new players fit in.

Villa do not play until March 3 at Fulham and the manager says it gives him a chance to sort things

out. "It's an opportunity to do a lot of things, sorting out contracts is one of them," said O'Neill. "For the first time since pre-season it's a chance to get back to basics.

"We can get back on the training ground and not think about a game at the end of the week. It is also an ideal opportunity for us to run through summer targets too."